UPDATE: Tyler wins NJCAA World Series bid

2012-03-28T00:59:46Z2012-03-29T19:07:51Z

UPDATE: TYLER, TEXAS (KLTV) - The NJCAA has awarded the Division III Baseball World Series to Tyler from 2013 to 2015. The bid was voted on Wednesday, after a presentation by Dr. Tim Drain (Athletic Director at TJC), Cindy Smoak (Vice President of SporTyler), and Kim Morris (Communications and Marketing Specialist for the Tyler Chamber of Commerce) to the NJCAA Championship Events Committee.

"I am absolutely thrilled that the city of Tyler will be the host of the World Series from 2013-2015," said Dr. Drain. "We have been a proud host since 2007 and I feel like it has improved every year. I sincerely thank Cindy and Kim for taking their valuable time to work on this proposal."

TYLER, TEXAS (KLTV) - For the past 5 years, Mike Carter Field has shown fans the best baseball in the country.

"It is starting to get engrained in the community, which is exactly what we has hoped for back in 2007 when we started," says Tyler Junior College (TJC) Athletic Director Dr. Tim Drain.

Drain plans to keep it that way.

He's off to Colorado Springs this week to make the pitch, for East Texas to keep the NJCAA Division III World Series for three more years.

"We feel like every single year it has grown, we have gotten more people to the park, we have generated money for Mike Carter Field," said Drain, "We are awfully proud of it and hope to get it back again."

But this year, they aren't the only one.

TJC won the bid for the 2nd time in 2009 when no other bidders came forward.

This year, Millington, Tennessee is bidding against TJC, trying to win the World Series.

"it is a big week for us, but hopefully they look through some of those things and at the last 6 years and what we have done here," said TJC head coach Doug Wren, "And how it has grown and hopefully continue that relationship."

Winning the bid this year means the World Series stays in East Texas for the next 4 years (including the 2012 World Series).

It also means maintaining one of the great atmospheres in all of college baseball.

"You know, it is a cool environment, just for baseball in general," said Wren, "Its just a small community that embraces this tournament and that puts on a good show for the 8 teams that come down here and compete."

"It is a lot like a minor league stadium, that is a great aspect," added Drain, "Plus, you are going to play in 82 degrees and not snow and you are going to a place that truly wants the tournament."

Now they wait to find out, if the NJCAA wants the World Series to stay with them.

Drain and the rest of the contingency from Tyler will make their presentations later this week.